Nov. 5, 2005

AUBURN, Ala. - The 14th-ranked Lady Volunteer golf team climbed into third place at the Auburn Derby Invitational after the second round concluded Saturday afternoon. Freshman Nicole Smith fired a one-under-par 71 to lead Big Orange.

Tennessee stands one stroke in back of tournament host and No. 7 Auburn for second place, while top-ranked Duke vaulted into the lead. On the strength of its second straight team score of 297, Tennessee remains in striking distance of the Blue Devils as it is just six strokes off the pace.

Smith, a Riverside, Calif., native, had a tremendous start to the round. She made par at No. 5 before draining back-to-back birdies. Eight straight pars followed, before Smith sunk another birdie putt. After two additional pars, Smith ran into trouble at Nos. 1 and 2 with a double bogey and bogey, but she finished strong by making a par and a birdie. The total of 71 matches Smith's collegiate low. Heading in to the final day, Smith is alone in fourth place after beginning play in a tie for 19th.

Holly Cantwell (Morristown, Tenn.) played well for the second successive day. The junior stood at one over par after two holes, but she did not rattle. Cantwell carded three consecutive pars before draining a birdie putt. On the back nine, Cantwell remained steady by making eight pars. Although she bogeyed No. 1, Cantwell was determined to enter the clubhouse on a high note, and she did that by registering par at the final two holes. After carding a 74 she is now tied for fifth with a sum of 147, which is the lowest 36-hole total of her collegiate career.

Marci Turner (Tompkinsville, Ky.) shaved two strokes off her final tally on Saturday. Similar to Cantwell, the sophomore was one over after two holes but that did not shake her. Turner strung together four successive pars to regain control of her round. After a bogey at No. 12, Turner made par or better at 10 of the final 11 holes to wrap up the day with a score of 74. She is tied for 18th with a two-round total of 150.

Golda Johansson (Lund, Sweden) had a challenging start to the round, as she stood at four over pars after seven holes. Prior to the next hole, the senior refocused, and the results were pleasing. Johansson compiled six pars along with a birdie down the stretch to end the day with a score of 78. With 18 holes to play, she is tied for 21st with a score of 151.

2005 Southeastern Player of the Year Violeta Retamoza (Aguascalientes, Mexico) had a taxing day. The senior bogeyed No. 6 to commence play, but then played the next six holes at even par, using two birdies to offset a pair of bogeys. After a tough stretch of four holes, Retamoza sunk a pair of par putts in addition to a birdie to wrap up the round. She is tied for 82nd with a two-day sum of 169.

The Auburn Derby Invitational, contested on the par 72, 6,270 yard Auburn University golf course, concludes on Sunday with third-round play. Tee times are set for 8:30 a.m.

Tennessee Finishes
4	Nicole Smith	75-71=146
T5	Holly Cantwell	73-74=147
T18	Marci Turner	76-74=150
T21	Golda Johansson	73-78=151
T82	Violeta Retamoza	87-82=169
Place	Team	Score
1	Duke	294-294=588
2	Auburn	291-302=593
3	Tennessee	297-297=594
4	Georgia	294-305=599
5	Virginia	297-306=603
6	Florida	302-302=604
7	Alabama	310-300=610
8	South Carolina	301-310=611
9	Texas	308-307=615
T10	Louisiana State	308-310=618
T10	Oklahoma State	316-302=618
12	Mississippi	300-320=620
13	Florida State	303-318=621
14	North Carolina State	315-307=622
15	UNC Wilmington	320-310=630
16	Kansas	317-319=636
17	West Florida	329-327=656
Place	Individual	Score
1	Maria Martinez, Auburn	69-72=141
T2	Anna Grzebien, Duke	72-73=145
T2	Jenny Suh, Alabama	75-70=145
4	Nicole Smith, Tennessee	75-71=146
T5	Holly Cantwell, Tennessee	73-74=147
T5	Jennifer Pandolfi, Duke	76-71=147
T5	Abigale Schepperle, Auburn	72-75=147
T5	Leah Wigger, Virginia	73-74=147